Umaru Mohammed was appointed Governor of North-Western State in Nigeria in July 1975 at the start of the military regime of General Murtala Mohammed. In February 1976 North-Western State was split into Niger State and Sokoto State. Umaru Mohammed continued as Governor of Sokoto State until July 1978. Umaru Mohammed died on 26 May 1980 in a crash of an Air Force Fokker F27 on the way to São Tomé and Príncipe on a diplomatic mission.He was travelling in place of his professional friend Ibrahim Babangida, who had just been approved to travel to the United States for professional training.